Dispenser for collapsible tubes



Aug. 29, 1961 D. A. COTHRAN DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed June 4. 1959 INVENTOR fll/FF) 60/7/24 fizz/QM ATTORNEY United States Patent O ice 2,998,163 DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Dufiy A. Cothran, 1215 S. 8th St., McAlester, Okla. Filed June 4, 1959, Ser. No. 818,212 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-100) that can be mounted in a kitchen, bathroom, workshop" or any other location for compressing a tube containing a product which is suitable for use at that particular location.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser that is simple in construction, eflicient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

The dispenser embodying the invention eliminates having to have unsightly, partly compressed, tubes lying around loose. Saves the contents of the tube from drying out, which usually happens when the top is left off and insures complete dispensing-of the contents of the tubes.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a dispenser embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary view, partly in section of a closure for a tube that is to be positioned in the dispenser of FIG. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate a dispenser embodying the invention.

The dispenser 10 comprises a substantially square shaped base 11, having depending side walls 12 and 13, respectively, a front wall 14 and a rear wall 15. The rear wall 15 has a grooved triangular shaped mounting block 16 integral therewith centrally thereof that is adapted to be inserted into a similar shaped socket 17 that is formed integral with a circular mounting block 18. The block 18 is adapted to be mounted on a vertical surface A so that the dispenser 10 can be mounted on the surface A or removed therefrom.

There is provided in the base 11, adjacent each of the side walls 12 and 13, a pair of elongated rectangular shaped openings 19 and 20, respectively, and the openings 19 and 20 are in end to end relation to each other.

A circular groove 21 is positioned in the center of the base 11 and the outer wall of the groove 21 is provided with threads 22 so that the threaded end 23 of a tube 24 can be threadably secured in the groove 21. The groove 21 is circumjacent to a circular raised portion 25 Which has a semi-circular tapered seat 26 adjacent the edge of the portion 25 that is positioned inwardly of the front wall 14. A semi-circular threaded socket 27 is provided in the portion 25 contiguous with the seat 26 and a substantially square shaped opening 28 is formed contiguous with the seat 26 and socket 27.

Patented Aug. 29,1961

A slide plate 29 is positioned in contact with the undersurface of the base 11 so that an upwardly extending projection 30 on the inner end thereof is receivable within the opening 28. The projection 30 is provided with a semi-circular tapered seat 31 that is adapted to mate with the seat 26 and a semi-circular threaded socket 32 that is adapted to mate with the socket 27. The opposite end of the plate 29 is provided with a depending block 3-8 that is provided with a threaded bore 39 in which is threadably mounted a threaded stem 40 of a knob 41 that has a shank 42 contiguous with the stem. 40 and knob 41 centrally thereof. The shank 42 has an annular groove 43 therein which is received between opposed projections 44 that are provided on the opposite walls of an opening 45 that is provided in the side wall 12. A mounting plate 46 extends over the slide plate 29 and fasteners 47 extending through the plate 46 retains the plate 29 in sliding relation to the base 11.

An opening 48 is positioned in the side wall 13 in aiinement with the opening 45 in the side wall 12. A pair of guide walls 49 extend inwardly of the opening 48 in parallel relation to each other to provide a guideway for a slide bar 50. The slide bar 50 has a flange 51 extend ing outwardly of each top edge thereof and the top rear edge thereof and the flange 51 engages in grooves 52 that extend longitudinally of the guide walls 49 at the base thereof. A knob 53 is provided with a shank 54 that is connected to the outer end of the bar 50. The opposite end of the bar 50 is provided with a vertically disposed bore 55 in which is seated a ball valve 56 that is biased upwardly into the sockets 27 and 32 by a coil spring 57 and the spring 57 is tensioned by an Allen screw 58 that is threadably mounted in the bore 55, FIG. 5. Each end of the Walls 49 has a projection 59 thereon against which is positioned a retaining plate 60 that extends across the bar 50 and retains the bar 50 in position when fasteners 61 secure the plate 60 to the edges of the side walls 49. The end of the bar 50, in which is mounted the ball valve 56, has a shoulder 62 thereon that engages the plate 60 so that the outward movement of the bar 50 is limited to prevent it from being pulled outwardly of the guideway formed by the walls 49.

The tube 24 is provided with diametrically opposed elongated slots 63 and 64, respectively, that extend from points adjacent the level of the portion 25 outwardly of the free end of the tube 24. A slide block 65 is provided with opposed grooves 66 that engage the edges of the tube 24 that form the slot 64. A knurled knob 67 is secured to the outer end of the block 65 and the block 65 has a socket in which is mounted a projection of a slotted bar 68. The opposite end of the bar 68 has a stem 69 which extends through a bore 70 in a slide block 71 that is mounted by means of opposed grooves 72 in the slot 64 in the tube 24. The outer end of the stem 69 is threaded to receive a knurled knob 73.

A circular cover 74 covers the upper open end of the tube 24 and 21 depending annular knurled flange 75 on the cover 74 retains the cover 74 on the end of the tube 24.

With the dispenser 10 mounted on any suitable surface as previously described, the operation of the dispenser 10 is as follows.

the tube and retains the tube in place. The free end of the tube is positioned in the slotted bar 68- and the blocks 65 and 71 are again positioned in the slots 63- and 64 and the cover 74 is replaced.

In this particular instance, the dispenser 19 is used for dispensing tooth paste and when it is desired to place the tooth paste on a tooth brush, the tooth brush is inserted through the arcuate shaped opening 76 in the front wall 14. The knob 53 is pulled outwardly and by rotating the knob 73 the end of the tube is compressed and tooth paste is dispensed on to the tooth brush.

When sufiicient tooth paste has been obtained, the knob 53 is pushed inwardly and the ball valve 56 will close the dispensing opening of the tube. This operation is continued until the tube is emptied. The knob 67 is then turned clockwise, the dispensing end of the tube is removed by sliding the bar 68 upwardly in the slots 63 and 64 by means of knobs 67 and 73. The tube is removed from the slotted bar 68 and anew tube is replaced for use as previously described.

When not in use the tooth brush may be suspended from the dispenser by inserting the handle of the tooth brush in the openings 19 and 20. As previously stated, the ball valve 56 will seat firmly in the dispensing end of the tube and thus the dispensing end will be securely closed to prevent the tooth paste in the tube from drying out.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the structure and operation of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that even though the disclosure is drawn to a dispenser for tooth paste, the invention is not to be limited to the use of this product alone, but is adapted to be used for any of the products previously set forth.

It is also to be understood that changes in the minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A dispenser for collapsible tubes comprising an upstanding tubular housing having the upper end open and the lower end closed, a cover removably closing the upper end of said housing, said housing lower end being provided with a dispensing openin means for securing said housing to a lower surface, there being opposed slots extending longitudinally of said housing from the open upper end to a plate spaced inwardly of the lower end, a guideway extending diametrically across the lower end of said housing and in alignment with said slots, a side bar disposed in said guideway, a ball valve resiliently carried on said bar and normally closing said dispensing opening, said bar being slidab'le in said guideway for sliding movement in a horizontal plane from the position in which the ball valve closes dispensing opening to a position in which the ball valve is out of closing relation with respect to the dispensing opening, a slide block mounted References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,015,794 Gray Oct. 1, 1935 2,057,793 Sanderson Oct. 20, 1936 2,130,176 Bond Sept. 13, 1938 2,133,295 Hollenbeck Oct. 18, 1938 2,368,952 Vale Feb. 6, 1945 2,872,077 Heck Feb. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 223,745 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1942 

